Summary Of Deaf Education Conference 4/3/2010
Friday, March 5th, 2010On March 4th, 2010, deaf education in Ireland took a step toward the future with the launch of a new joint policy document by the Catholic Institute of Deaf People, Trinity College Dublin, the Irish Deaf Society and DeafHear.
This document is historic in being the first agreed approach to education and supports from deaf-led organisations [...]
J-Fest Mid-Term Adventure Camp February 17-20
Friday, January 22nd, 2010The J-Fest Mid-Term Adventure Camp is on from February 17 to 20, at St Joseph’s School, Cabra, with activities for deaf kids of 10 to 15 years of age.
At just EUR 50 for four days of swimming, football, horse-riding and other activities, the residential camp is geared to pupils at mainstream schools.
Only 15 places are available, [...]
Sign Language In Schools Benefits All Students
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009Ballymahon Convent of Mercy Secondary School is breaking ground in deaf education in the midlands with a new deaf unit, which is currently educating two young girls in the mainstream system.
An initiative of Eileen O’Donovan (graduate in Deaf Studies at Trinity College Dublin), the unit was set up in September 2008 and supports several deaf [...]
Inclusive Reading Of “Ben” Book At County Library
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009On November 10, 2009, IDK is hosting an inclusive reading of its
“A Birthday for Ben” childrens’ book with Elizabeth Mathews and Dee Byrne-Dunne, at County Library, Tallaght from 10am to 11.30am.
Children aged 4 to 8 from local schools are being invited to the reading as part of South Dublin County Council’s Social Inclusion Week.
Copies of [...]
Cochlear Implants Boost Childrens’ Early Learning
Monday, November 2nd, 2009The development of deaf children fitted with a cochlear implant is being profiled in a study at Malaga University, headed by Ignacio Moreno-Torres.
Three months after receiving an implant, all children profiled could recognise sounds in their immediate environment. Social and family factors were also analysed in the study for a more in-depth result.
Children become used [...]
IDK’s 2010 Calendar Showcases “Ben” Drawings
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009IDK’s 2010 calendar complements its childrens’ book, “A Birthday For Ben” (August 2009). The calendars are available at Easons, Hughes & Hughes, Hodges Figgis & Waterstones, or by email / post from IDK (see below).
All proceeds will be reinvested in the Irish Deaf Kids website and venture.
Perfect for the home or office, the calendar has 13 drawings [...]
Practical Inclusion Tips From A Pretoria School
Friday, September 4th, 2009Planning is key to giving deaf children access to mainstream classes at a Pretoria school, as South Africa’s Times newspaper recently described.
School modifications to facilitate this inclusion:
hexagonally-shaped rooms with acoustic modifications
FM soundfields in every room
walls fitted with pin-board carpets to muffle ambient sound
strategically-lit rooms for lipreading
four audiologists on-site to manage hearing devices
extra tuition for deaf [...]
“A Birthday for Ben” - A Story About Deafness
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Irish Deaf Kids has teamed with Irish publishing house Special Stories, to release an exciting new children’s book, “A Birthday for Ben”, which is about young children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The book is beautifully illustrated by Karen Quirke, a Dublin-born talented deaf artist, and sensitively written by Kate Gaynor, a Dublin [...]
Interactive Whiteboards Promote Pupils’ IT Literacy
Monday, July 20th, 2009Using interactive whiteboards in mainstream primary school classrooms motivates pupils by offering educational tools with a strong visual learning element. For deaf children who learn visually, whiteboards can contribute to inclusive teaching in many ways.
Interactive teaching directly at the whiteboard is possible, instead of the child missing instructions while at a classroom workstation
The child easily [...]
NDCS Highlights Deaf Childrens’ Teaching Needs
Saturday, March 21st, 2009The National Deaf Childrens’ Society (NDCS) in the UK believes deaf children need to be better accommodated in the government’s 2020 strategy for the workforce dealing with children and young people.
NDCS’ key recommendations in its feedback on this strategy include:
Better guidance for mainstream teachers working with deaf children
An audit of the early years workforce so the needs of deaf [...]